GB2465142A

GB2465142A - Animal litter impregnated with disinfectant

Info

Publication number: GB2465142A
Application number: GB0820123A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon James Lawrence Bernard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-11-04
Filing date: 2008-11-04
Publication date: 2010-05-12
Also published as: GB0820123D0

Abstract

A method of manufacture stabling litter in which field straw is chopped into short lengths 11 (typically between 1-4 cms), surface treated with disinfectant, and compacted to form pellets or briquettes 12. The straw litter is used in stabling for ungulates. The disinfectant deters the animals bedding thereon from eating the litter.

Description

Compressed Straw Animal Litter

Field

This invention relates to compressed straw for use as animal litter and in particular to compressed straw for use in stables with horses ponies and other ungulates.

Background of the Invention

Animal litter formed from compressed pellets or briquettes of compacted straw fibres are known from DEl 99281 25 and US 4824808. The animal litter described in these two documents comprises straw powder, particles and/or very short lengths of straw in the order of 4mm in length.

A problem with using straw for ungulates in general, and horses in particular, is that horses have a tendency to eat the straw bedding materials. Because of the horses digestive system eating straw in uncontrolled quantities can cause bloat.

The applicant has found a means of providing straw bedding or litter for ungulates in the form of compacted straw briquettes or pellets which the animals are inclined not to eat.

Statements of Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided straw litter or bedding for use in stables for ungulates, the litter comprising chopped straw compacted into pellets or briquettes, the straw being impregnated with a disinfectant. The disinfectant discourages animals from eating the bedding litter.

The straw preferably has a length greater than 1cm and preferably up to 50mm in length., and typically about 40mm The straw pellets have a density of between 150-220 gms/litre and preferably in the order of 180-200 gms/litre. The pellets are preferably about 50-60 mm in diameter ( 2-2.5ins) and may be any convenient length, typically upto 40mm The preferred disinfectants are none hydrogen peroxide types such as disinfectants containing aldehydes and quaternary ammonium compounds, Suitable materials are ViroshieldTM, ViroguardTM and preferably Virocid TM and preferably the disinfectant coverage is in the order of 1.0 x 1 0 gm of disinfectant per gm of compressed straw pellet.

IS Also according to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of manufacture of stabling litter in which field straw is chopped into short lengths, preferably between 10-50 mm, is surface treated with disinfectant, and is compacted to form pellets or briquettes.

The straw is compacted whilst hot to a density of about 1 50-220 gms/ litre and preferably to a density of 1 80-220 gms/litre.

The disinfectant is diluted with water by upto 20 times and preferably at a ratio of about 12:1 and the chopped straw is passed in free fall through a hopper as the diluted disinfectant is sprayed onto the straw. The disinfectant is preferably an aldehyde! quaternary ammonium based material.

The disinfectant is sprayed onto the straw at a coverage of 1 2.5 litres of dilute disinfectant per tonne of straw.

Description of Drawings

The invention will be described by way of Example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig.1 is a schematic view ot a stabling litter briquette according to the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a schematic of the method of making the briquette

Detailed description of the Invention

IS With reference to Figures 1 & 2 of the drawings, there is shown a briquette or pellet 11 formed from short lengths 1 2 of compacted field straw, typically from barley, wheat The briquettes or pellets may be provided in any suitable shape for example, as a cube cylindrical, or in any desirable other cross-section. In the present example the pellets are cylindrical being about 2-2.5 inches (50-60mm) in diameter 0 and have a height H or length of 2-3 inches ( 50-75mm). When the pellets and associates loose material are thrown onto a stable floor the pellets tend to absorb moisture and expand onto relatively loose stabling litter.

With reference now to Fig.2, straw bales 21 are delivered to a conveyor 22 which feed the straw into a cutting machine to chop the straw into short lengths of upto 5cms, and preferably in the range from 1cm to 4cms. The chopped straw is forwarded by any suitable means to a feed hopper 23 at a rate of 4 tonnes per hour, Straw dust 24 is removed from the cutter. The cut straw undergoes free fall in the hopper and is spayed with disinfectant during the free fall by spray heads 25.

The disinfectant is a none hydrogen peroxide type and is preferably an aldehyde, quaternary type disinfectant, preferably VirocidTM which is diluted as required and in this case by about 12:1. The hopper 23 has a through put of about 4 tonnes per hour and the spray head 25 spays the diluted disinfectant at pressure of about 4 bar and at a rate of 50 litres an hour, which is 1 2.5 litres per tonne The sprayed straw is then continuously fed by one or more augur(s) to a briquetting machine 27. The travel along the augur 26 helps mix the straw and the disinfectant during delivery to the briquetting machine, where horizontal mixing further mixes the straw.

The treated straw is compressed into briquettes or pellets by a plurality of pistons 28, only one of which is shown, which move and compress the chopped straw as it sweeps the straw towards a plurality of vertex type feeds to outlet nozzles 29. The piston 28 exerts a pressure of about 5 psi (about 0.35 bar) on the compressed straw which has a final density of between 1 80-220 gms/litre. The briquetting machine operates such that the outer surface of the pellets is about 900 C and the temperature at the centre is about 450 C. The compacted straw extrudate breaks into convenient lengths typically from 50mm down to loose straw as it emerges from the nozzles 29 where it is collected in bins 31 Preferably the pellets have a length of between 50-75 mm. The pellets are allowed to cool and are then bagged for storage iii a flat store 32..

The compacted straw pellets or briquettes facilitate storage of straw for use as animal letter and bedding. The straw pellets in use expand to form loose bedding and litter. The disinfectant helps keep the stable area fresh and renders the straw unpleasant to eat helping to reduce bloat in the horses.